The ISBA’s sections and committees, legislative affairs staff, and association leaders manage to keep their eye on thousands of bills introduced by the General Assembly every year.
On Dec. 5, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that mandatory life sentences are inapplicable to defendants under the age of 21 at the time of the offense.
On Dec. 2, 2025, the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held a section 2-1401 petition under the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure requires a movant to allege a meritorious defense and facts showing that the movant exercised due diligence in defending against the original action.
The General Assembly amended the Code of Civil Procedure to prohibit minors, defined as a non-emancipated person under the age of 18, from being named as a defendant in a complaint in an eviction proceeding.
The Office of the Treasurer adopted amendments to the Part titled Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. These amendments require “finders” to be licensed by the office and to charge client fees of less than 10 percent of the collected amount. License applicants must be of good moral character, demonstrate understanding of the Act, pay a $500 initial licensing fee, and pay a $250 renewal fee every three years.
On Dec. 9, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a prior theft conviction is admissible to impeach the plaintiff’s credibility.
The Department of Innovation and Technology set out clearer steps for submitting, reviewing, and deciding grievances regarding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) grievance procedures.
The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation adopted amendments to the Part titled Consumer Legal Funding Act concerning refinancing and pro rata fees.
On Jan. 7, 2026, the Fourth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that res judicata generally does not bar timely-filed claims in one lawsuit merely because similar claims in a later lawsuit were dismissed with prejudice as untimely.
The General Assembly enacted the Self-Administered Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Ban Act, which prohibits the sale, marketing, promotion, advertisement, or other distribution of self-administered sexual assault evidence collection kits.
On Dec. 4, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court held that a 30-day imprisonment sanction is not a sentence under the County Jail Good Behavior Allowance Act and therefore does not entitle defendants to good-conduct credit.
A Schedule A tactic to herd alleged infringers into a single action is testing the limits of civil procedure rules, prompting pushback from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The General Assembly amended the School Code to prohibit schools and law enforcement from issuing monetary fines, fees, tickets, or citations to students for municipal code violations committed on school grounds during school hours or while taking school transportation.
The General Assembly amended the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to require the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to develop clear, definitive guidelines for developing threat assessment procedures, rapid entry response plans, and cardiac emergency response plans.
On Dec. 18, 2025, the Fifth District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a weapon conviction based on a prior juvenile adjudication did not violate the Second Amendment.
The Office of the Treasurer adopted amendments to the Part titled Secure Choice Savings Program. The rulemaking subjects employers to penalties for failing to remit employee contributions in a timely manner.
